1. INFLUENCING POLICY CHANGE
A framework for Action
Maurice Bolo, PhD
Bolo@scinnovent.org / ochibolo@gmail.com

2. INFLUENCING POLICY CHANGE:
Basis and style
Two dimensions to approach
Basis
- Evidence or science based
- Interest or values based
Style
- Cooperation (inside track)
- Confrontation (outside track)

3. Approach = Basis + Style
Evidence,
science
Advising Advocacy
Cooperation Confrontation
Lobbying Interest, Activism
values

4. Advising
Evidence/Science + Cooperation
Participants to discuss and populate

5. Advocacy
Evidence/Science + Confrontation
• Participants to discuss and populate

6. Lobbying
Interest/Values+ Cooperation
Participants to discuss and populate

7. Activism
Interest/Values+ Confrontation
• Participants to discuss and populate

8. Approach = Basis + Style
•Different approaches used within an
organization
•Organizations may emphasize one
approach
•Research organizations advise
•Different approaches may suit different
situations

9. Framework for Research-Policy Linkages
Developed by Overseas Development Institute
Consists of four components (PELE)
Political context
Local, national
Evidence
Credibility, communication
Links
Networks, influence, interactions
External environment
Regional, international

10. Framework for Action
For each of the four components:
What researchers need to know
What researchers can do
How to do it
*Public policy self assessment tool

11. Political context : To Know
•Who are the policymakers?
•What is the policy making process?
•Is there policymaker demand for new ideas?
•What are the sources/strengths of
resistance?
•What are the opportunities and timing for
input into formal processes?

12. Political context : To Do
•Get to know the policymakers, their agendas
and their constraints.
•Plan and prepare for opportunities in regular
policy processes.
•Identify potential supporters and opponents.
•Look out for and react to unexpected policy
windows.

13. Political context : How to Do It
•Work with policymakers.
•Seek commissions.
•Line up research programmes with
high-profile policy events.
•Allow sufficient time and resources.
•Reserve resources to be able to move
quickly to respond to policy windows.

14. Evidence : To Know
•What is the current theory?
•What are the prevailing narratives?
•How divergent is the new evidence?
•What sort of evidence will convince policymakers?

15. Evidence : To Do
•Establish credibility over the long term.
•Provide practical solutions to problems.
•Establish legitimacy.
•Build a convincing case and present clear
policy options.
•Communicate effectively.
•Package new ideas in familiar theory or
narratives.

16. Evidence : How to Do It
•Build up programmes of high-quality work.
•Clear strategy for communication
•Face-to face communication
•Action-research and pilot projects to
demonstrate benefits of new approaches.
•Use participatory approaches to help with
legitimacy and implementation.

17. Links : To Know
•Who are key stakeholders?
•What links and networks exist between
them?
•Who are the intermediaries, and do they
have influence?
•Whose side are they on?

18. Links : To Do
•Get to know the other stakeholders.
•Establish a presence in existing
networks.
•Build coalitions with like-minded
stakeholders.
•Build new policy influencing networks.

19. Links : How to Do It
•Partnership between researchers,
policymakers and policy end-users.
•Link up with key networkers and salesmen.
•Use informal contacts.

20. External Environment: To Know
•Who are the main international actors in the policy
process?
•What influence do they have?
•What are their priorities?
•What are their research priorities and mechanisms?
•What are the policies of the donors funding the
research?

21. External Environment: To Do
•Get to know international organisations, their
priorities and constraints.
•Identify potential supporters, key individuals and
networks.
•Establish credibility.
•Keep an eye on donor policy and look out for policy
windows.

22. External Environment: How to Do It
•Develop background on international, regional,
donor policies.
•Orient communications to suit their priorities and
language.
•Cooperate with funders and seek commissions.
•Contact (regularly) key individuals.

23. Group work
•Divide participants into groups
•For each group, they should choose a policy
problem/issue
•Participants are required to (a) use the PELE
framework and design how they would respond to
the situation, with the ultimate goal of influencing
policy and action
•30 mins group work; 30 minutes plenary
presentation and discussions

24. www.scinnovent.org